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SmilingSally

SmilingSally

I married when I just turned seventeen, and we've just celebrated our 50th anniversary! I'm a retired high school teacher, with two grown children and seven grandchildren. I'm a Christian, and I love to read--particularly Christian Fiction. My book review blog can be found at: http://bookcritiques.blogspot.com/

My shelf contains some... more »
  • Odessa, FL
  • member since August 7 2007

Reviews

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Displaying 1-10 of 374 reviews
  • The Christmas kitchen : the gathering place for making memories
    • Rated 4 stars

    Thank you to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this collection of all things Christmas.

    Although small in size, 7.1 x 7.1 x 0.5 inches with 132 pages, it's chock full of ideas that will inspire the reader to enjoy the real meaning of Christmas. The author encourages the reader "to let go of perfection." (sigh) Finally, an authority gives permission to the homemaker to relax and enjoy the holiday.

    SmilingSally wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • Tidings of Great Boys
    • Rated 4 stars

    Thank you to FaithWords for my copy of this fun, teen Christian novel.

    I don't know what happened to my original review; it was probably inadvertently deleted--by me! I've moved in the past few months, and I've just discovered that I'm not as perfect as I once thought I was. However, I did read this teen novel and and finished it October 1st. It is well written with characters who come alive.

    I enjoyed reading about the Christmas traditions of Scotland and the interactions of the girls when boys and gossip come into play. This is a good one for the teen on your giving list.

    Although it is the fifth in the wonderful series, like the others, it can be read alone.

    SmilingSally wrote this review Monday, November 23 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • As You Wish
    • Rated 3 stars

    I bought all three books in the Christy and Todd series when I happened upon a sale bin. I read, enjoyed, and reviewed the first, Until Tomorrow. This is the second in the series. It is a book that can be read without having read the first.

    I felt that the plot dragged a bit, and I had a hard time relating to the characters. Christy is much more indecisive than I am, so it's difficult to imagine a college-aged girl unable to tell a guy that she loves him. Todd, a patient young man, just seems to understand that all will work out fine. That too, seems odd to me.

    Perhaps a younger reader would enjoy this series more than I. There's some good methods for teens to use when following God's direction in life. I'm passing the series along to my granddaughter.

    SmilingSally wrote this review Monday, November 23 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Loss of Carrier

    Loss of Carrier

    by Russ White
    • Rated 3 stars

    Thank you to the author for my copy of this Christian fiction mystery. I learned a little technology as I read since the protagonist is a geek network engineer. Although it gets technical, explanations are given so that even I could understand.

    It's disconcerting to trip across misspellings and grammatical errors, and unfortunately, this book contains some. In addition, the flow is a bit choppy. However, the compelling plot keeps the reader turning pages.

    There's a scene where the protagonist and his love interest debate the merits of waiting for sex until after marriage.

    SmilingSally wrote this review Monday, November 23 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Norman Rockwell : behind the camera
    • Rated 5 stars

    Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my copy of this most impressive book. I've always loved Norman Rockwell; I own some of his prints, and I have even visited his museum in Vermont. (He has another museum in Connecticut.)

    This heavy volume satisfies my curiosity to find out the background of many of Rockwell's paintings. Any lover of art, Americana, or history would be pleased to own a copy. What a terrific gift idea! My copy is going on top of my living room coffee table for easy access.

    SmilingSally wrote this review Friday, November 6 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Last Word (Sophie Trace Trilogy)
    • Rated 4 stars

    Thank you to The B & B Media Group, Inc. for my copy of this Christian fiction novel. This is the second installment of the Sophie Trace Trilogy series, and can be read without having read the first as the author nicely fills in all gaps.

    The character of Brill is one I connected with in the first book. She's the first female police chief in the town's history. Working in a high pressure position, while being wife to Kurt and mother of three gives her depth. The layered story begins when her teenage daughter comes home from college seven months pregnant, shocking her parents. People begin dropping like flies as a murderer takes revenge, threatens that Brill is next. Talk about a stressful life!

    However, there is too much repetition. This character tells that character about a circumstance, and later, the reader reads yet another conversation about the same topic being discussed between two others.

    Nonetheless, the book is a worthy read, with a bit of romance and the suspense of tracking a slippery killer. Discussion questions are included.

    SmilingSally wrote this review Friday, October 30 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • A walk with Christ to the cross : the last fourteen hours of His earthly mission
    • Rated 4 stars

    I won this book in a giveaway, and it sat on my bookshelf for months, not because I didn't want to read it; I did, but because I simply did not hav the time with all of the other books I had to read and review. Finally, my schedule was caught up-to-date, and I opened the cover.

    Written in a conversational tone with antidotes included, this volume goes into detail on the final fourteen hours of Christ.

    It begins with an extensive examination of Judas. Another in-depth study centers on Peter. Many chapters conclude with "Lessons to Learn," a nice summary of points made. The reader follows the arrest and trials of Jesus step-by-step, with explanations of Roman and Jewish laws and traditions. A study of the name Jesus is included. This is a good source for anyone interested in the life and death of Christ.

    SmilingSally wrote this review Saturday, October 24 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Ansel Adams in Color
    • Rated 5 stars

    Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my copy of this wonderful book. Everyone's heard of Ansel Adams, America's foremost landscape photographer. In fact, whenever I spot a black and white landscape, I think of him. However, this eye-opening collection of spectacularly detailed color photographs expands my admiration of his work.

    This volume is more than a collection of magnificent color photographs; in addition, it contains a comprehensive essay, "Quest for Color" by James L. Enyeart, photographic historian. The heavy volume concludes with "Selected Writings on Color Photography by Ansel Adams. This book would be a treasure for anyone interested in photography, art, and/or America. What a remarkable gift it would make!

    SmilingSally wrote this review Thursday, October 22 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Let Darkness Come

    Let Darkness Come

    by Angela Hunt
    • Rated 5 stars

    Thank you to Mira Publishing for my copy of this new legal suspense novel by my favorite author who once again produces a book with an unexpected twist. It's typical Angela Hunt: fantastic!

    Briley Lester, a frustrated criminal attorney who once envisioned making a positive difference in the world, has become weary of defending guilty criminals. Now she has a huge first-degree murder case dropped into her lap. To make matters worse, she has never tried a murder case; indeed, all of her cases have been low level ones. Does her firm want her to lose?

    Erin Tomassi, the widow of a state senator, stands accused of his murder. All the evidence is stacked against her, and everyone--even this reader sees her as guilty. Yet as the plot unfolds, opinions change. Could she be innocent?

    Angela Hunt takes this impossible case and creates some courtroom drama. This is no Perry Mason novel; this is based on potential possibilities. This author always educates.

    The writing is first-person narrative and flows. Pages almost turn by themselves. I would enjoy staying in touch with the characters. I do hope to see Briley Lester in another novel. Be sure to grab this one for a good read.

    SmilingSally wrote this review Friday, November 13 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Andrea Palladio: The Complete Works
    • Rated 5 stars

    Thanks to Hachette Book Group for my copy of this colorful pop-up book. No one does pop-up books as well as Chuck Fischer!

    Although children will enjoy it, in no way is this a children's book; it is created for adults and is a comprehensive study of angels arranged into three sections: "Messengers," "A Hierarchy of Angels," and "Secular Angels." Text is interspersed throughout the book by inserting booklets--themselves tiny works of art. A good idea is having the "Acknowledgment" and the "Image Credit" pages as pull-outs.

    This volume is smaller than other works of the author; perhaps because the price is less than the others. Nonetheless, it is large enough to do the job. I would encourage careful handling to preserve this treasure. This would make a marvelous gift.

    SmilingSally wrote this review Wednesday, October 21 2009. ( reply | permalink )
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